A man from Annapolis Valley is accused of attempted murder and several weapons-related charges following a shooting incident involving a woman known to him, who sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a hospital. Ryan Alexander Cole, 36, appeared briefly in Nova Scotia Provincial Court on Monday, with his case adjourned until Aug. 25 while he remains in custody.
The incident unfolded early Saturday in South Farmington, Annapolis Valley, where law enforcement responded to reports of a shooting. The suspect fled the scene in a damaged Mazda sedan, heading towards Halifax. Police pursued the vehicle, deploying a spike belt on the highway in an attempt to stop it. However, the suspect managed to evade the deflation device, prompting aerial tracking by law enforcement.
The pursuit culminated in the Mazda crashing into a tree as the suspect tried to navigate a hiking trail behind a shopping mall in Bedford, a suburb of Halifax. The suspect then fled on foot, prompting the RCMP to issue alerts regarding the situation for public safety.
RCMP Cpl. Mandy Edwards emphasized the risk to public safety when dealing with a suspected armed individual, highlighting the localized alert issued initially in Bedford and subsequently an emergency alert to all Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) residents. The arrest operation involved K-9 units from the RCMP and Halifax Regional Police, alongside emergency response teams from both agencies.
While confirming a connection between Cole and the victim, Edwards refrained from specifying the nature of their relationship. Cole’s criminal history dates back to 2008, featuring multiple charges for breaching release conditions, as well as offenses such as disarming a police officer, resisting arrest, and unauthorized sharing of intimate images.